Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-06-09

earned distinguished honor and a few
words about the graduate are not inan-
propriate. de has been q resident OF
Yankton since his boyhood days, comi0g
here some seventeen years ego with his
father, Colonel VIM. H. Pound, who died
while holding the position OF United
States attorney for Dakota. His mother
Mrs. a.. p. Ritzius. and q brother and,
sister still reside with him in Yankton.
Young Mr.. Ponnd possesses the sterling
qualities which rendered his father uni-
yersally beloved during his LIFETIME and
is Of his steady. earnest and industrious
habit. He has given to his college
work ell his mental and physical re-
sources and leaves the college with the
highest possible honors-creditable
alike to his own efforts and to his alma
mater.
So great an interest do the people of
Yankton take in the workings Of Yank-
ton college that Wednesday. the last day
of commencement was made almost o
holiday and the Congregational church
In the afternoon was crowded while the
grad uating exercises were being held.
Something like three hours were con-
sumed in carrying out the programme
and though the heat was unusually OPP
pressive the audience boreiit without a
murmur. The programme consisted of
shGft educational exercises, salntatory adj
drees to the president. board of trustees,
faculty and students OF the college, by
the graduate, his GRAFTON and the vale.
dictory. Then came Dr.. @. r. P .Bancroft'e
address, music, the comforting of degrees
and laet the benediction.
The salntatory was o kindly expires
sion OF gratitude to the college officers
and Q complimentary ccagratnlatory ad.
dress to the students and was carefully
prepared and expressively delivered. The
oratioH, by Mr. Pound, contained NUN.
berless valuable arguments on the ques-
ton of the finality Of the constitution
OF the United States. This grafton wal
not lengthy. With the valedictory the
graduate tooG leave of his college friends
and associates and every word was tinged
with regret.
DIR. o. F. P. BANCROFT,
of Phillips academy. Andover, Massaohu.
sets, spoke as follows:
On such IN occasion as this a sneaker
is at no loss for a theme. The occasion
is his subject. He is swept at once away
from all thoughts of self, OF appeal, OF
apology, or instruction, into the great
thoughts which gather about an institu-
ton of learning and which bring to the
point at once the most inviting subject
fof human interest and contemplation,
the building OF character, the dignity
and worth OF mind, the immortality OF
the soul, the imperative Of duty, the
mystery OF life, the church OF the living
God and even God himself, OVER ALI,
blessed forever more. These are the
peaks and SUBMITS Of his thought-high
clear, Mumined; and farther down-aIona
the slopes are the long ranges OF social
economic, and political questions. all OF
which belong to man, grow out Of his
wants, and are therefore his own field of
observation and reflection, the legitimate
domain of all his strongest, finest think
ing, ana b nearest end of all his educa-
ton; and lit it be not too bold a fpure)
we have as an ATMOSPHERE, e~nvelopine
all this sublime landscape of Thought
and truth and purpose. those general
sympathies, interests, and affections
which belong to u homes, our college,
four class,-all the local and personal
elements which reach to the very day
and hour, which center in this com
~mencement, in this graduation, in this
first degree conferred by this college.
l should do great violence to my own
feelings and ever greater violence to
yours, If [ did not come to this occasion
with some real sense OF its high mean
ing not only to us who are present, and
to those whom it most intimately CON
Germs, but to the whole commonwealth
OF letters, to the goodly fellowship of
learning in this land and in all countries,
to this generation and to all coming EN-
erations, to all, in all places and times,
who drink at the pure fountains of
science, philosophy, and faith.
For the establishment of q true seat
OF learning, and its development along
the lines of opportunity is a task, a duty,
privilege, and a promise, %hich we do
not pause to consider, and which, did we
pause, none OF us could measure. The
inhabitants of Switzerland live all their
lives amid the snblimest scenery without
a thought of its grandeur. We have only
some dim sense of the reach of our plans;
we watch the first push of the infant
plant above the mould, we see its first
leaflets absorb color and fibre, and vigor,
and drawing into itself the four cosmic
elements, earth, air, water, and the FIRE of
the suns but do not foresee with clear
vision the day when the fruit thereof
shall shake like Lebanon. The end
does turn OF the beginning. 'Fiuis
origine pendet.o 1t is not by accident
that the first words of the Holy Scrip
lures are 'In the beginning" They are
as sublime as the grand nAmen' with
which The canon closes. 1t IS permissible,
Notwithstanding all the uncertainties OF
the future, to look forward. Not ONLY is
1t greatly wise to talk with our PAST
hours and ask them what report they
bore to heaven, but it is also greatly
wise to construct in all soberness an
outline OF coming days. Cras sterab-
mus aed,phthongq0or.
To-day Yankton college BEGINS, / do
not overlook the years Of work and
waiting which have gone befose, the
courage, the venture, the self denial, the
prayer, that have gone into it, tie good
1T has been doing, the devoted men and
women who have rallied about it, the
fyoung men and women who have raaort.